Nepal's early history is so intertwined with legend, that it is sometimes almost impossible to separate fact from myth. A good example of this mingling of fact and fiction is the legend about the origin of the Kathmandu Valley.

Legend has it that the Kathmandu Valley was once a large lake surrounded by mountains. It was known as Nag Hirat - 'Tank of serpents' - as nagas or magical snake-beings were said to guard treasure lying at the bottom of the lake. The Buddha dropped a lotus seed into this lake, and it bloomed into a thousand-petalled lotus of blazing light. Centuries later, the Boddhisatva Manjushri arrived from the north and with a single stroke of his Sword of Wisdom, cut a gorge in the mountainous ring around the lake. The waters of the lake rushed out, leaving a flat and fertile bowl that is Kathmandu today.

Hindu's believe it was Krishna who created the valley by throwing a thunderbolt that created the Chobar Gorge. Scientific view also states the valley was actually under water once and that its rivers do flow southward through the Chobar Gorge.

Apart from the legend Nepal has always been an independent country with glorious history, culture and tradition. Although independent, Nepal was ruled by many rulers of different origins.

KIRATIS a Mongoloid people who are believed to be the first rulers, ruled Kathmandu Valley around the 7th or 8th century BC. Very little is known about them. Their first King Yalambar is mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Then came the LICCHAVI dynasty. These kings of high-caste Hindu origin ruled from about A.D. 330 to 600. They were responsible for the golden age of Nepali art and architecture as the numerous fine sculptures and delicately carved chaitya, still exists today.

Amsuvarman, the first THAKURI king, came to power in 602 AD, when he succeeded his Licchavi father-in-law. Known as a wise and learned ruler, he married his daughter Bhrikuti to Songtsen Gampo, the ruler of Tibet who at the time was a very powerful Tibetan King.

The MALLA Dynasty followed the Thakuris. The golden age of the Mallas (1201-1768) began with its first ruler King Arideva. This age saw the generation of vast amounts of wealth, the completion of Nepal's most important palaces, temples and works of art, and the foundation of many current festivals and customs. The rulers competed heavily with each other in this respect. The three greatest towns - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - each had powerful rulers who were great patrons of art and culture. Efforts were focused around the Durbar Squares close to the three main palaces. Temples and shrines in stone, brick and wood encrusted with precious metals sprouted everywhere.